Stuttgart chief praises Morocco’s Bilal El Khannouss for defensive improvements

Moroccan international Bilal El Khannouss has earned praise from Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth for his impressive work rate and growing defensive contribution, as the midfielder continues to establish himself as a more complete player in Germany.

Wohlgemuth highlighted the 21-year-old’s commitment both on and off the ball, pointing to his ability to combine attacking quality with defensive responsibilities.

Speaking to German outlet BILD on Monday, the Stuttgart sporting director explained the qualities that have made El Khannouss an important figure in the team.

“Bilal is always right at the forefront when it comes to endurance running and tackling. He also helps out defensively, sometimes dropping back to track back,” Wohlgemuth said.

The Moroccan midfielder delivered another impressive performance in Stuttgart’s 4-2 victory over Leverkusen on Saturday, finishing as his team’s leading player in duels won.

El Khannouss improving his defensive game

According to BILD, El Khannouss has made significant progress in becoming a more well-rounded midfielder since joining Stuttgart.

Although the club’s management had expressed concerns about his defensive contributions during the early stages of last season, the Morocco international has worked on that aspect of his game and improved his performances without possession.

His development has further strengthened his standing at the German club, while attracting interest from several teams outside Germany.

Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad reportedly made a €40 million offer to Stuttgart last summer and proposed tripling the midfielder’s wages. However, El Khannouss turned down the opportunity.

Turkish giants Galatasaray were also interested in securing his services, with the club’s Director of Development, Fatih Demireli, confirming to Kicker that positive discussions had taken place involving the player, his agent and Stuttgart.

However, Galatasaray eventually opted to sign Aleksey Batrakov instead, bringing their pursuit of the Moroccan midfielder to an end.

Morocco international committed to Stuttgart project

El Khannouss’ decision to remain in Germany was largely influenced by his commitment to the development plan agreed with Stuttgart.

Speaking to BILD, the midfielder explained that he and the club had established a two-year development project when he arrived, making a departure at that stage an unsuitable decision for his career despite the other offers available.

His continued progress has since reinforced Stuttgart’s confidence in the Moroccan, who will now look to maintain his impressive performances on the European stage.

El Khannouss is expected to carry his strong domestic form into Tuesday’s Champions League encounter against Galatasaray, the same club that attempted to sign him during the summer transfer window.